It's already a large number of years that I bought this Chinese antique "necklace/chain" in comparison of a wax stamp showing its ancient state needs for export in Beijing. This "necklace" weighs 47 grams and I am still guessing what it was used for.
I bought it because I liked and unfortunately I could not ask anybody in the shop because they only speak Chinese which I don’t and therefore I don’t know till this moment what it was used for.
The lowest figures (I think it could be peacocks) hangs with a ring and hook on upper "charm" (bee, butterfly). The chain has no locker. Is there anyone who can tell what it could used for in earlier days and dating?

valentino97, 4 years agoMy source book "True to Form" - A celebration of the Arts of the Chinese Craftsman by Lynn Pan (publisher FormAsia Books Limited) shows similar silver amulets (without the full chain) that were "sewn onto caps and worn on birthdays or festivals by little boys". It also states "these charms, thought to have protective powers, normally depict favorite Chinese figures like the God of Longevity. She doesn't list dates for these. I also found an example of a hat in another source book: Traditional Chinese Clothing by Shaorong Yang (published by Long River Press San Francisco). It shows a boy's Arhat hat from Hunan Provence w/similar hollow silver amulets applied.

Your necklace could be a woman's item, but wouldn't you think it would be worked both sides as it might twist when worn? That's why I think it was originally sewn down.

Very nice! I LOVE Asian art and jewelry. Someone like Kevin Bruneau on Market Warriors would know right away what this is.

The examples are similar but not exactly like yours.

Agram.m, 4 years agoValentino, what interesting story it gives some answers and clues on my questions
I thank you very much for ythe effort you made. I hope to reach Kevin Bruneau to ask more! Did you see the photo of my last made dress on he site of my last antique watch chain? I'm awaiting yours!
Thanks again!

Agram.m, 4 years agoVetrai050 and stefdesign thanks you both very much for your interest and loving I appreciate

Agram.m, 4 years agoVaetino7 thanks for posting I take a look. I see a very beautiful proud joung lady besites her very nice two colored dress. Very handsome made. We are indeed very creative. do you still make your clothes? Thanks for placing this and thanks for all your knowledge and help!

valentino97, 4 years agoA young girl - yes proud of my design. I don't sew much anymore - I have had several careers - one was clothing designer which was hard since I'm not a good businesswoman. I still sew for musicians and artists one at a time now. I have a "real" job as a merchandiser for Fruit of the Loom (Warren Buffet) and I also sell vintage items.

Agram.m, 4 years agoAmberRose nice to "see" you again and I appreciate your loving

Agram.m, 4 years agovalentin097,
What do you have an impressive and interesting career! I see some similarities with myself after all, what a coincidence. Already from childhood I drew a lot and loved beautiful clothes, fashion and accessories. When I was a young woman had to choose a profession I wanted to be a fashion designer. My parents left me to do a test to know what profession I could do best. That came out that I certainly had talent, but in business my character was not hard enough, because the world of fashion is a hard business world, they said. They thought it was better that I would choose a different direction. After jobs as a secretary, I was finally first beautician, later on beauty teacher, did a lot of training in this such as color theory, makeup, skin illnesses and so on, also a school for being teachter. I started my own school where I have trained many fellow estheticians and I am, when I am stopped this and I did not sin with my expertise to do to write about my profession. For magazines, websites, including a number of years. I have had my own website which I selled last december. But, now I'm almost 68 years. Do a lot of volunteer work in the medical field and sits on the editorial board of a local magazine. Continue practicing with great passion one of my hobbies, collecting antique jewelry. Occasionally I sell sometimes a jewel but always there anything better in return to buy. So you see we keep our agreements and apparently we love some of the same things. Very fun and intriguing. Hope you're here often "encountering" Thanks for all your detailed and interesting stories.

Agram.m, 4 years agoPhilDavidAlexanderMorris thanks for your loving and I appreciate your comment. This time I don't agree because I bought this myself in an very large shop in Beiing were I bought also a fine gold and diamond Jadeite 18|Kpendant (also post here on CW).
Moreover we had at this chain (?) special export certificates and wax stamp have to be allowed to export this item out of China. Had we not been able to establish itself than was your conclusion might rather than to understand. Moreover, this is sterling silver. No, for me this is a real antique silver item and indeed maybe even somewhere to sew or to confirm but fairly primitive finished ?

valentino97, 4 years agoThanks for sharing your careers. My parents discourage an Iowa girl to go for fashion design - so maybe try something more practical. My degree is in graphic arts and I made a living w/that career for another 25 years. (I STILL love the field and create altho I can't keep up w/all the computer advances.) Mainly as a graphic artist, but also as photographer and plate processor for ad agencies/printing companies. In 1987 I moved from FL to CA & worked at a local weekly newspaper in La Jolla as a graphic artist, next assistant to advertising dept. and then as a Lifestyles writer/editor. (Small 20k circulation? It's not so hard to work your way up the ladder.) I LOVED the writer/editor job: Restaurant and Retail shop reviews, Advertiser profiles and then once a month or so we would put out a special section: Home & Garden, Automotive, Real Estate ---and of course Fashion 2x a year. With the Fashion editions I was able to meet and interview designers like Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Geoffrey Beene because of I.Magnin (CA), Saks & Neiman Marcus events....it was a great time while the economy supported small newspapers. My next career moved into fashion design and manufacture (cut-throat the entire time!) I worked in Reebok's design dept. for 2 yrs not realizing they were using us to set up all production in Mexico - and then promptly closed our 300-employee facility down. I still work in the clothing industry - now as a Retail merchandiser for Fruit of the Loom (Vanity Fair, Lily of France, Bestform, Exq. Form, Curvation, and FOL ladies lingerie).

Your career in the Beauty field w/training and editorial on your expertise sounds very rewarding. How do you help your local magazine as a board member? As a volunteer I imagine you use your expertise to help patients.

Agram.m, 4 years agovalantino97, Thanks for letting us take a peek in your extensive careers. Very interesting and comprehensive, compliments. If I understand correctly, we are partly orat least in the same direction at work or have been at work.
You ask what I do in the local newspaper. I sit among others in the editorial. I write professional articles and also monthly articles that give a peek into the lives of several businesses men and women including the readers to know who they are dealing with in particular case as they go online. Furthermore, I really advice in my professional field.
But collecting jewelry is and remains my passion. Only, I am a bit worried about the future. I have no daughter, currently (still) no daughter nor granddaughter. But I would like my collection or at least a portion there of to leave to my family.
In any case, thanks again for your interesting story and I hope to meet you here often!
Il hope I don't make to much mistakes in English because it's still an foreign language to me!

Agram.m, 4 years agoPhilDavidAlexanderMorris yes you are right It could be used sewing onto some part of caps or clothes as valentino97 and you discribed. I didn't understand the text not clairly enough as necessasery to understand what you both are saying. I apologize but this language is a strange language dor me, that was in this case the problem.
You helped a lot and perhaps some day I will hear exaxtly what it was sewed on! Thanks anyway!

Agram.m, 4 years agoMikkoChristmas11 a big hug for all your loving and interest

shrine, 3 years agoHi Agram, this is an unusual item, it took me few mins to look though books and still no exact match. To me, it's not like a necklace, but a decoration to be worn on onside of waist off belt, for girls. It's designed to be single side and the motif is "butterfly with lotus". An authentic piece. Hope you enjoy it.

Agram.m, 3 years agoshrine, sorry to ask you for the second time to give comment here. But your mail was in by spam. Thanks for your looking and comment if you ever find something like this, please let me know, I'm always interested in the old Chinese culture!
Thanks again for your effort.